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This Hero Is Feeding Fresh Meals To The Forgotten Elderly In Rural Gujarat, Support Him
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Story of the changemaker
Some stories leave you shaken and heartbroken, but also give you a great sense of purpose. Rakesh Manubhai Panchal recalls one such story of an old woman he encountered on one of his feeding drives.
“I was deeply moved when I heard about the plight of an elderly woman who had lost her husband and was struggling to manage her meals. When I reached her home, I was shocked by what I saw. Her house was filled with small biscuit packets and other snack wrappers, each costing no more than 5 rupees. When I asked her about it, she revealed that this was all she could afford to eat. For over a year, she had been surviving on these snacks with the meagre pension she received. I was heartbroken to hear this and immediately ensured she received regular meals from us. It's the least we could do to help her in this difficult time."
Rakesh's NGO, Visamo Sarvajnik Charitable Trust, is a lifeline for elderly individuals like this. He works tirelessly to uplift the lives of seniors in rural Gujarat, offering them essential support and a renewed sense of hope. In many ways, he stands as their guardian, giving them not just support, but also encouragement and strength to navigate life's challenges
A Son’s Promise Fulfilled: Rakesh Has Changed Countless Lives Through His Efforts
One morning in 2017, Rakesh's father expressed his desire to provide healthy meals to the elderly every day. However, Rakesh told him that they did not have the resources or budget to support this at the moment. It would require an investment of money and resources to make it happen, and they just didn’t have it. That evening, Rakesh’s dad had a brain haemorrhage and passed away unexpectedly.
"That changed my life forever. The last thing he had told me was his wish to feed the elderly, so I knew I had to do something. I went to a nearby government hospital and asked the doctor how I could help the people there. He said that even getting one meal would be a huge help to them, so I decided to feed them breakfast in the mornings. During this time, I was told about an elderly man near the hospital who was struggling to get meals. I decided to send him tiffin meals every day, and before I knew it, I was feeding more and more people."
Rakesh's story took a remarkable turn when he started sharing his mission on social media. It wasn't long before he found supporters for his cause, and that's how Visamo Trust came into being. They opened their kitchen after the COVID-19 lockdown, and today, they give 400-500 tiffins every day to elderly people in villages near Kheda in Gujarat.
"They're all so vulnerable and can’t prepare meals even if they have groceries. With no one else to rely on, these elderly individuals are truly in need of support. When we provide them with food, it's more than just a meal—it's like we become their family. Their smiles are priceless to me.”
However, Rakesh Is Worried That Without Support, His Tiffin Seva Will Suffer
One of their biggest challenges is getting enough groceries and being able to transport the food to all the people in need.
"Our donations aren't consistent, so sometimes we have to rely on the store to provide groceries on credit, paying off the bills the following month. Initially, we managed to serve meals twice a day, but now we can only afford to do it once. However, I'm determined to keep our tiffin service going. These elderly people rely on us, they now consider us their children, and we can’t let them down.”
Support Visamo's tiffin seva to ensure that the elderly residents of Gujarat's villages never have to go hungry again. With your support, they can continue to be a lifeline for the elderly, who may otherwise struggle to access food. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these vulnerable people.
About the NGO: Visamo Sarvajnik Charitable Trust, founded by Rakesh Manubhai Panchal, is dedicated to serving elderly individuals in rural Gujarat who are facing food insecurity and hardship. Inspired by a deeply personal commitment to honour his late father's wish to provide daily meals to the elderly, Rakesh embarked on a journey to make a meaningful impact in his community. Through Visamo Trust, he and his team work tirelessly to ensure that no elderly person goes hungry, delivering 400-500 nutritious tiffins every day to villages near Kheda, Gujarat. Their mission goes beyond mere sustenance; they strive to provide companionship, support, and a sense of family to those they serve.
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